Peshawar: A suicide bomber struck a rally against militancy in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than two dozen others, officials said, in an attack that came as residents protested the return of militant activity to the area, AP reported.
The explosion occurred in Kabal, a town in Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where protesters had gathered near a police station to demand peace and denounce militancy. District police chief Omar Khan said the crowd had been chanting anti-militant slogans when the attacker hit.
Witnesses said speakers at the rally had warned that providing security and eliminating militancy were the state’s responsibility. They also criticized authorities for not taking stronger action against militants, saying people in the area wanted to live without fear after years of bloodshed that ravaged the region.
Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service, said the bomber targeted dozens of people taking part in the gathering. Omar Khan said the dead included at least nine civilians and five police officers.
President, PM Condemn Attack
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing sorrow over the deaths and offering condolences to the families of those killed. In separate statements, they also prayed for the recovery of the wounded and directed authorities to ensure that those injured receive the best possible medical care. Both leaders said Pakistan’s fight against terrorism would continue until it was eliminated.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the bombing, extending condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the rapid recovery of those hurt.
The attack revived grim memories in Swat, once a stronghold of Islamic militants who imposed a harsh version of Sharia, or Islamic law, before the Pakistani military launched a major offensive in 2007 and pushed them out, restoring government control. But militants have surfaced again in recent months, heightening fears that the Pakistani Taliban are trying to re-establish a foothold in the valley.
In response, residents have repeatedly organized anti-Taliban rallies across the region to protest the militants’ presence and demand security.
TTP Links Draw Suspicion
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing, but suspicion is expected to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The TTP is a separate group from Afghanistan’s Taliban. However, the two remain closely aligned. Besides, many Pakistani militants’ leaders and fighters are believed to have taken refuge in Afghanistan since 2021.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of sheltering TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies. The country has seen a surge in militant violence in recent years, with police and security forces often among the main targets.